How to Talk to People

On this season of How to Talk to People we explore the barriers to relationship building and why—in a world of endless potential for connection—so many people still feel alone. From the the struggle to prioritize non-romantic relationships, to just feeling uncertain of what to talk about with strangers, host Julie Beck and producer Rebecca Rashid unravel the complexities of putting yourself out there—in hopes of revealing the rewards of showing up.  Produced by Rebecca Rashid and hosted by Julie Beck. Editing by Jocelyn Frank. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Engineering by Rob Smerciak. Special thanks to A.C. Valdez. The executive producer of Audio is Claudine Ebeid; the managing editor of Audio is Andrea Valdez. Music by Tellsonic (“The Whistle Funk”).  Talk to How to Talk to People—by “talk,” we mean write to us—at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com. To support this podcast, and get unlimited access to all of The Atlantic’s journalism, become a subscriber.

47 episodes transcribed
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Education

Best of “How To”: Rest

Episode Date: December 2, 2024

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How to be Immortal Online

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With digital spaces regularly evolving and updating, and the infinite scroll beckoning to us at all times, this episode questions if we have, as a cul...

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How to Game Reality

Episode Date: June 10, 2024

Games can serve as an escape from reality—but they can also shape our understanding of trust, collaboration, and what might be possible IRL. Megan Gar...

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How to Keep Watch

Episode Date: June 3, 2024

With smartphones in our pockets and doorbell cameras cheaply available, our relationship with video as a form of proof is evolving. We often say “pics...

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How to Know Who’s Real

Episode Date: May 13, 2024

Social media has made it easier to build more parasocial relationships with celebrities and influencers. What impact are those connections having on o...

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Can We Keep Time?

Episode Date: January 15, 2024

It can be tough to face our own mortality. Keeping diaries, posting to social media, and taking photos are all tools that can help to minimize the dis...

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How to Rest

Episode Date: January 1, 2024

Between making time for work, family, friends, exercise, chores, shopping—the list goes on and on—it can feel like a huge accomplishment to just take...

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How to Look Busy

Episode Date: December 11, 2023

Many of us complain about being too busy—and about not having enough time to do the things we really want to do. But has busyness become an excuse for...

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How to Waste Time

Episode Date: December 4, 2023

Co-hosts Becca Rashid and Ian Bogost explore our relationship with time and how to reclaim it. Why is it so important to be productive? Why can it fee...

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How to Not Go It Alone

Episode Date: June 26, 2023

The values of individualism that encourage us to go it alone are in constant tension with the desire for community that many people crave. But when at...